Australian flags were mistakenly flown in Washington, D.C., ahead of King Charles's upcoming visit to the United States, in what has been described as a Down Under blunder. The error saw 15 Australian banners included among hundreds of British and American flags installed across the capital to welcome the monarch.
Photos show clusters of Australian flags lining lamp posts near the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The confusion may have arisen because the Australian flag features the Union Jack in the upper-left corner, though it is distinguished by six white stars on a blue background. A District of Columbia Department of Transportation official confirmed the mistake was quickly rectified and the flags removed.
The mix-up sparked widespread chatter online, with many commenters poking fun at the error. One X user wrote, 'I blame George Bush and No Child Left Behind,' while another said, 'They couldn't bother to take 15 seconds and Google “UK flag”?' Others noted that the Australian flag was not entirely inappropriate, as King Charles is also the head of state for Australia, albeit in a largely ceremonial role.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to arrive in the United States on Monday for a four-day state visit marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Their itinerary includes stops in Washington, D.C., New York, and Virginia.
